With the advent of Eco-friendly plantation shutters, beautifying home is much closer, easier and even more special than what you thought. To be sure, it is not just about beautifying your home, but you get to reap more rewards than that. To have your windows covered without taking advantage of the host of benefits that you could enjoy by making the right choice of window covers would be like missing the wood for the trees. That, perhaps, is what makes for the Eco-friendly plantation shutters which have a wee bit of edge over other window coverings.
What are plantation shutters?
It was in the Caribbean and the South America that the European colonists introduced plantation shutters, a name that was derived on account of the wide usage of the kind of shutters among old plantation homes. Plantation shutters consist of louvers, tilt-bars, divider rails, top and bottom rails and a frame as the chief parts.
Plantation shutters could be attached to window frames or mounted on to the French doors or other doors. Louvers feature horizontal slats, positioned in angles to allow light and gentle breeze flow through and ventilate the house, while effectively keeping rain drops, outside noise and direct rays of the sun at bay. The tilt-bar controls air flow and the level of natural illumination through subtle adjustments of the louvers.
Purposes of window coverings
In general, there are many purposes that are served, when window coverings or shutters are used.
1. Shutters provide insulation. You could stay warm in winter and keep the heat out in summer, thus giving you control over your internal environment, irrespective of what it is in the external environment outside your home.
2. Shutters help reduce gas and electricity bills. You could have light and a reasonable degree of control over temperature without having to worry about your electricity or gas bills and serving the purpose of being Eco-friendly in the process.
3. Shutters provide UV protection. You could enjoy the goodness of sunshine without having to worry about the adverse effects of UV ray exposure.
Advantages of plantation shutters
While all of the above mentioned purposes would be served using Eco-friendly plantation shutters, there are additional benefits in place for the taking.
1. Esthetic appeal. This is a special feature of plantation shutters, where you could replicate the traditional and vintage style in such chaste form.
2. Comfort and personalization. you could enjoy the cosiness afforded by Eco-friendly plantation shutters while you could also personalize them to suit individual rooms.
3. Sturdiness and longevity. Plantation shutters stand the test of time, being strong enough to last a lifetime.
4. Add value to home. That is figuratively as well as literally so; if you are considering resale of your home, why not increase the value of your property up by a few notches before you float it out in the market?
Types of plantation shutters
Plantation shutters could be classified based on the material of which they are made as well as the applications that they are put to:
1. Interior and exterior plantation shutters. They come in handy both when used within the house as well as when added on to exteriors.
2. Wooden plantation shutters. They are basically made of teak, oak, mahogany, cherry, western red cedar or basswood, giving you variety and choice with unique properties.
3. Faux wood plantation shutters. They look precisely like wood in all aspects, but are made of poly, vinyl or plastic. These shutters can be used in water rooms as well, without risking any damage to them on account of moisture around. They play an important role in allowing for light and ventilation in just the levels that you want inside the spas, Jacuzzi or water rooms, and turning out to be Eco-friendly options, saving on electricity and heating.
Comparing Eco-friendly plantation shutters to other window coverings
There are indeed choices, when it comes to variety in window coverings, but there are differences in the way they fare with respect to the Eco-friendly plantation shutters.
1. Acrylic window covers. They are stronger than glass and are good insulators, but they expand and contract with temperature and cannot be fixed permanently to standard frames. They are not flexible with regard to adjustment of light and ventilation and their Eco-friendliness is questionable.
2. Roman shades. They could be made of wood or fabric; roman shades are affordable than the more expensive drapes or curtains but the custom-made ones can be expensive. They can be difficult to dismantle at times, might block part of the window even in raised positions and may not suit small windows.
3. Curtains. They are common options and may not differentiate your home from the rest. Further, they may not be the best fit, if you remodel the room or change its color. Their base material may not be Eco-friendly and may not add as much to resale value as plantation shutters do.
Plantation shutters are attractive, useful, valuable and completely customized, with distinct advantages that should sway your preference in their favor.
